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School camp time 'not work'

Jewel Topsfield

Dr Jim Watterston with part of the controversial Education Department memo to principals.

TEACHERS have been told the time they spend at school camps outside their allocated 38 hours a week - such as when students have ''free time'' - does not count as working hours.

Principals, parents and teachers are flabbergasted by the memo from the Education Department. The Australian Education Union said it was ''ridiculous'' and ''irresponsible'', given teachers are on duty full-time at camps.

School camps and excursions are expected to be cancelled this year as state school teachers ramp up their industrial campaign and refuse to work more than 38 hours a week from the first day of term one.

The union has vowed to proceed with the industrial action over pay and conditions, despite the government threatening to seek an injunction in the Federal Court if it is not called off by January 29.

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However, an Education Department memo aimed at helping schools to ''minimise the negative impact'' of the action, said the work bans did not extend to attendance at camps and excursions.

The memo to principals, seen by Fairfax Media, encouraged schools to plan for camps and excursions for 2013 ''as per usual''.

''It is important when developing your resource plan that you do not assume that time spent at the camp outside of the allocated 38 hours, such as free time at the end of an afternoon of activities, constitute actual working hours,'' Deputy Secretary Jim Watterston wrote.

''This is free time.''

He said principals should divide the total camp hours by 38 to determine the number of staff required to supervise.

Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said she was astounded by the memo.

''Parents would have an expectation that teachers going on camps in loco parentis are on duty 24/7,'' Ms McHardy said.

She said parent volunteers at school camps found that teachers performed a role that went well beyond regular classroom requirements and expectations.

''Parent helpers themselves return exhausted and praise teachers and camp staff all the time for their efforts.''

Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Frank Sal said most principals would consider that a teacher was on duty for the duration of a camp. ''Regardless of departmental advice, principals will still find enormous difficulty in running camps given the work bans,'' he said.

The Education Department memo also suggested schools work with the camp's management team on a contingency plan, such as the camp directly employing staff.

''To minimise the impact of the planning ban, we encourage you to focus on the parameters of the industrial action,'' Dr Watterston wrote.

He said the department would generally expect schools to cover costs relating to forgone deposits for camps ''in the unlikely event that they do not proceed''.

But Ms McHardy said Parents Victoria felt strongly that no family or school should be out of pocket. ''For some schools these deposits would amount to thousands of dollars,'' she said.

''All schools should be contacting the department for cost recovery so school budgets and families are not punished or disadvantaged by the ongoing industrial action.''

Australian Education Union state president Meredith Peace said the department seemed to be suggesting teachers at camps did not have any responsibilities outside their normal hours.

''To suggest there is free time is ridiculous and in fact irresponsible,'' Ms Peace said.

''It's one of the most bizarre comments we have ever seen from the department.''

Ms Peace said one of the reasons for the ban on working outside the 38-hour week was to highlight the number of unpaid hours teachers worked to enable students to have the opportunity to attend camps and excursions.

She said the union was seeking legal advice over the government's claims that elements of its log of claims - mostly to do with a reduction in the level of short-term contracts - were illegal.

The union is seeking a 12 per cent pay increase for teachers over three years. The government refuses to offer more than 2.5 per cent a year, plus performance pay.

jtopsfield@theage.com.au

224 comments

Teachers say they want to be treated as professionals, but then they seem to want to claim overtime for every extra half hour they work.

If they want to be professionals, then they should act like it, have performance reviews like other professionals, BUT then the Government should pay them like professionals.

Commenter

Mad Matt

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 8:24AM

We arent claiming over time, we are simply not going to do it this year as a way of going on strike. And we have annual performance reviews.

Commenter

Ben29

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 8:56AM

Victorian school teachers have performance reviews every year. Written evidence of performance is required by each teacher.

Commenter

Milsome

Location

Victoria

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 8:58AM

Mad Matt, you are obviously totally oblivious to the professional requirements already in place for teachers. Not only do teachers already undergo half yearly reviews, we also must demonstrate a commitment to improving our professional practice in a number of different areas and are required to show how we meet the professional standards set by the Victorian Institute of Teaching on a regular basis. Please, enlighten me Mad Matt, what more do I need to do to show that, as a teacher, I am indeed 'professional'? Perhaps you are the one who needs enlightenment on the matter...

Commenter

Jo85

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 9:03AM

Teachers should only consider school camps unpaid time when senior public servants agree to give us humble taxpayers some work for free.

That will happen when lucifer has to buy some winter woolies

Commenter

Classic boy

Location

Life boat earth

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 9:21AM

Could not have said it better myself Jo85. It still seems everyone else outside the teaching system is an expert on what a teachers role is and should be. I am wrapped to know that we apparently get paid 'overtime' for camps. You heard it first here from Mad Matt so it must be true. I would be happy to have all these experts trade a week to shadow me at work to show you the real world. It will be a volunteer week for you of course, I know how you hate people getting paid for nothing.

Commenter

Trav

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 9:25AM

It seems Secretarial and Deputy Secretarial appointments under this government have no connection to leadership skills, knowledge, intelligence or experience. As long as you tow the party line, you can spruik as much garbage as you like......

Commenter

Simply

Location

Amazing

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 9:29AM

Madd Matt,

you have no idea. My wife is a teacher. They don't get overtime at all, so your wrong there. She has to do an annual review, so your wrong again.I guess I should thank you for your support of teachers like my wife, as you said they should get paid like professionals if they have to do a performance review. They have to do them, so you support the pay rise. Good for you.

Commenter

Chas

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 9:43AM

Australia actually has a high death rate at school camps. They should have been stopped a long time ago.

Commenter

sarajane

Location

melbourne

Date and time

January 23, 2013, 9:56AM

"Mad" whatever, it helps to read the article before you comment.

Teaching has always depended upon a lot of good will. Teachers are not paid overtime for camps. As Dr Watterson goes about his wrecking ways and wilfully propagates the fiction of "free time". Teachers have only to make a simple decision. Going on camps is a voluntary activity - teachers have do decide to to say "yes" or "no" to giving up time with their families, Dr Watterson's silly assertions have guaranteed that they will say "no".